Your teeth are a vital part of your body, yet you only get one set of them in your entire lifetime. Because of this, taking care of your teeth is an important habit to have in life. Without good oral care habits, your teeth can wear out very quickly. The habits you have in life can also cause a lot of wear and tear on your teeth, and some of the habits that damage teeth are things you might not even know you do. Here are several habits you might have in your life that can damage your teeth a lot.
Clenching and grinding while sleeping
Do you clench or grind your teeth while you sleep? If you do, you might know you do simply because someone has told you about this, or you might not even realize you do. If you wake up in the morning with a sore jaw, that is a good indication you might be doing these things. Grinding and clenching your teeth are bad habits to have for the health of your teeth, though. They can cause stress on your jaw, which can lead to developing jaw problems, and they can wear your teeth away, leaving you with shortened teeth and very little enamel on them. If you suspect you have this problem, you should talk to a dentist about solutions for it.
Living with dry mouth
If you have dry mouth, you probably realize you have it, but you might not realize the damage this can lead to. Dry mouth is often the result of medications or age, and it prevents your salivary glands from producing enough saliva. This condition can lead to many problems, including decay on your teeth. Saliva is there for many reasons, but one of the purposes it serves is to clean your teeth. Your saliva cleanses the teeth by flushing them after you eat. Without enough saliva, your teeth are prone to developing cavities.
Biting your nails
People who bite their nails may also be prone to more problems. If you have this habit, you should find a way to stop, because it can do the same damage as grinding your teeth. When you bite your nails, you are exposing your teeth to a lot of trauma. This can lead to wearing off of the enamel, and this can lead to sensitivity in your teeth and a greater chance of developing cavities.
If you have any concerns about your teeth and oral health, you should consider calling a dental clinic like Cape Dental Care to schedule an examination today.
Share23 May 2017
After dealing with a few root canals, I realized that it was time to take my dental hygiene a more seriously. I talked with my dentist about what I could do differently, and he was full of great suggestions that would help. He walked me through different ways to brush, floss, and take care of tartar buildup, and it was really amazing to see the difference that it made. I also started taking a fluoride supplement to strengthen my enamel. When I made it to my next appointment, my dentist was blown away with the improvement. This blog is all about improving your dental appointments by keeping your teeth healthier.
